# Lebi ibn War Jabi

Lebi ibn War Jabi, or Labbi, was the second Muslim ruler of Takrur, and son of War Jabi. He is known for his alliance with the Almoravid Dynasty, further developing his kingdom to rival the Ghana Empire during the second half of the 11th century.

## Background

Lebi ibn War Jabi was the son of War Jabi and member of the Manna Dynasty of Takrur. He inherited the throne following his father's death in 1041.

## Reign

Following in the steps of his father he continued to promote Islam. He would go on to start an alliance with the newly established Almoravid dynasty, then under Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni, due to religious reasons, and to counter the power of the Ghana Empire. In 1054 he combined with the Almoravids to attack the berber city of Awdaghust for recognizing the authority of the ruler of Ghana. This action was beneficial as the goldmines in the Bambuk region came under Takrur influence. Gold that would not only help his kingdom, but would also go to helping the Almoravids expansion of the Maghreb, along with military support. He fought alongside Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni in 1056 at the Battle of Tabfarilla in which the Almoravid ruler would lose his life. 4,000 black cavalrymen of Takruri origin, likely sent by Lebi, played the decisive role in the Muslim victory at the 1086 Battle of Sagrajas in Al-Andalus, including severely injuring King Alfonso VI of León and Castile leaving him with a permanent limp. This victory in Al-Andalus was crucial to halting the Reconquista, and not only continued to further the development and prestige of Takrur, but also allowed his Almoravid allies to gain control of Al-Andalus.

## Expansion

A continued expansion was initiated by War Jabi with the goldmines of the Bambuk region and the salt mines of Awlil falling under his control.

## Legacy

His contributions and strategic alliance making helped turn Takrur into one of the dominant kingdoms of the Sahel during the second half of the 11th century and 12th century.

## Sources

* ↑ Gomez, Michael Angelo (2018). African dominion: a new history of empire in early and medieval West Africa. Princeton (N. J.): Princeton university press. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-691-17742-7.
* ↑ Trimingham, Spencer J. (1970). A History of Islam in West Africa. Oxford University Press. p. 29.
* ↑ Levtsiyon, Neḥemyah; Levtsiyon, Neḥemyah (1973). Ancient Ghana and Mali. Studies in African history (1. publ ed.). London: Methuen. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-416-75830-6.
* ↑ McDougall, EA (1985). The View from Awdaghust: War, Trade and Social Change in the Southwestern Sahara, from the Eighth to the Fifteenth Century. Cambridge University Press. p. 8.
* ↑ Brooks, George E. (1986). A Provisional Historical Schema for Western Africa Based on Seven Climate Periods. Indiana University Bloomington. p. 111.
* ↑ Hrbeck, Ivan (1992). Unesco (ed.). Africa from the seventh to the eleventh century. General history of Africa (Vol 3. ed.). London : Berkeley, Calif., U.S.A. : Paris: J. Currey ; University of California Press ; UNESCO. p. 356. ISBN 978-0-85255-093-9. {{cite book}}: Missing |editor1= (help)
* ↑ Kane, Oumar (2004). La première hégémonie peule: le Fuuta Tooro de Koli Tenella à Almaami Abdul. Hommes et sociétés. Paris: Karthala [u.a.] p. 65. ISBN 978-2-84586-521-1.
* ↑ al-Naqar, Umar (1969). Takrur the History of a Name. Cambridge University Press. pp. 53–54.
* ↑ Ba, Abdourahmane (2017). Chapitre 1, Le Takrur Historique Et l'Héritage Du Fuuta Tooro. p. 140.
* ↑ Khallikan, Ibn (1282). Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary. Translated by Slain, William M. Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland (published 1868). p. 456.
* ↑ Cartwright, Mark (2019). "The Salt Trade of Ancient West Africa". World History Encyclopedia.